What's the Buzz on Bumble Bees?
August 09, 2009 | By
When you hear the word bumblebee, a fuzzy overgrown bee buzzing heavily from blossom to blossom is usually what comes to mind. Like honeybees, bumblebees are very important pollinators of flowers. But unlike honeybees, bumblebees usually nest in the ground and have much smaller colonies. They will sting if provoked, or if you come too close to their nest, but unlike the honey bees, they do not lose their stingers after stinging.
Bumble Bee is also the name of a ghost town in Arizona. It was once a thriving stage coach stop, but when the railroad moved westward the town diminished and by the 1960's it was put up for sale. Several old buildings still remain, but have been left to the elements and the site is now private property. Legend has it, two prospectors struck a gold vein in the 1800's and hid a stash of gold near their camp. Before they were able to pack up and go home with their booty, Apache Indians attacked and killed one of the miners. The other miner retold the story of the gold on his deathbed. To this day, the gold has never been found.
“Flight of the Bumblebee” is also a musical composition written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. No matter what instrument is being played, any musician will tell you that the challenge to this frantic-paced piece lies in the ability to move your fingers quickly enough through the cascading scales of notes.
Bumblebees in Craft
What is the fascination with bumblebees? Possibly it is due to the popular idiom "busy as a bee." Maybe the myth that bumblebees theoretically should not be able to fly, so in doing it they represent achieving the impossible. Perhaps it is because bumblebees are usually portrayed as a friendly bee. Whatever your reason, many crafters choose to incorporate the bee into their art.
A search for bumblebee on ArtFire will bring up the happy little creature in almost every medium. From metals to edibles to textiles, the bee graces many different handcrafted items. TruisPhotography offers this close up of a bumble bee clinging to a fern. If you are so inclined to knit your own bumblebee, curlsofsunshine has this cute crocheted pattern available. And PenguinsPlunder offers an irresistible bumble bee charm.
It doesn't seem to make any difference whether the “bumble” is separate from the “bee” or if you choose to make it all one word, bumblebee; if you are looking for a cute handmade item, a musical listening pleasure, or a town with an unusual name and past, bumblebees will always leave your head buzzing with delight.
Further Reading on Animals in Crafts:
Gathering of Animals
Significance of Owls
Attracting Birds
Birds of a Feather
Photos courtesy of PenguinsPlunder
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